Charles Alcock
Managing Editor
Charles Alcock is a senior editor with AIN, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at Manchester University in the northwest of England and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.
Latest from Charles Alcock
FutureFlight On The Radar
UK Aerospace Industry Told To Speculate To Accumulate In Growing Green Aviation Market
The Aerospace Technology Institute's 2022 technology strategy document argues that now is the time for industry to bet big to develop key products and processes that will drive carbon out of aviation.
Aircraft
Ampaire Seeks New Funding as Surf Air Takeover Scuttled
Hybrid-electric aviation pioneer Ampaire is preparing to launch a Series B funding round after confirming that Surf Air Mobility is no longer acquiring it.
FutureFlight
Pipistrel Seeking To Fly Electric Velis Trainer Under New FAA Rules
The Slovenian company announced its intention to take its electric-powered trainer into the U.S. market a couple of week's after being acquired by Textron Aviation.
FutureFlight
Safran to Power Diamond's Electric DA40 Light Aircraft
The French aircraft engine manufacturer is increasing its involvement in the burgeoning electric aviation sector by supplying its EngineUs family of motors to multiple aircraft manufacturers.
FutureFlight
United Airlines and Archer Make Plans for eVTOL Maintenance and Operations
A new eVTOL aircraft advisory committee will consist of 10 executives appointed from United Airlines and Archer Aviation.
FutureFlight
Lessor LCI Places Deposits for Up to 125 of Beta's Alia 250 eVTOL Aircraft
The agreement could almost double the number of aircraft in LCI's portfolio, which already includes helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
FutureFlight
Lilium Says Its Half-way to Achieving EASA Design Organization Approval
The German eVTOL aircraft developer has completed two of the four audits required by the EASA Design Organization Approval process.
Airports
Air-One eVTOL Transportation Hub Makes Debut in UK
Urban-Air Port and eVTOL developer Supernal unveiled in the UK a fully functional example of a “multimodal infrastructure hub” to support eVTOL ops.
FutureFlight
Pyka Raises $37 Million To Produce Autonomous Pelican Crop Sprayer
The company says its autonomous crop-spraying aircraft can operate at one-fifth of the cost of piloted aircraft used in the agricultural sector.
FutureFlight
Ampaire Seeks New Funding for Hybrid-Electric Plans as Surf Air Acquisition Is Dropped
The hybrid-electric propulsion developer is prioritizing the conversion of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and expects to have its Eco Caravan approved for service in 2024.
FutureFlight
U.S. Air Force Turns to Reliable Robotics for Guidance on Autonomous Operations
Reliable Robotics will provide recommendations and a plan of action to help the Air Force determine how best to exploit remotely piloted operations technology for its aircraft.
FutureFlight
Air-One Transportation Hub Starts World Demonstration Tour in the UK
The 17,000-sq-ft facility, which has been developed by Urban-Air Port in the UK, will be displayed in cities worldwide to give public stakeholders the chance to envisage how advanced air mobility will work.
FutureFlight
Joby Relaunches Annual Elevate Summit to Gather Aerial Mobility Expertise
The Elevate Summit, which was not held in 2020 and 2021, is returning this October and will be held at the Duggal Greenhouse at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.
FutureFlight
Archer Co-founder Brett Adcock Quits Co-CEO Role, Leaving Adam Goldstein at the Helm
Brett Adcock will remain on Archer's board of directors and has said he will announce new plans in the next few months.
FutureFlight
EASA Will Validate UK Certification of Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL Aircraft
The decision should expedite the four-passenger VX4 aircraft's ability to start operating in the UK and the rest of Europe by 2025.
FutureFlight
For Aircraft Engine Giant Safran, Opportunity Knocks on the Door Leading to Electric Aviation
Safran is providing members of its EngineUs family of electric motors for a variety of new electric aircraft that could include a hybrid-electric 19-seat regional airliner and several light general aviation models.
FutureFlight On The Radar
Air One Vertiport in the UK Gives a First Glimpse of Advanced Air Mobility Operations
The Air One facility in Coventry in the UK has been jointly developed by ground infrastructure group Urban-Air Port and eVTOL aircraft developer Supernal.
Aircraft
Electric Aircraft Seek to be Part of Business Aviation's Future
Several companies developing electric and hybrid-electric eVTOL and eSTOL aircraft are exhibiting at the 2022 EBACE show in Geneva.
FutureFlight
Maryland Airport Bids To Become Autonomous Flight Technology and Operations Hub
Salisbury Ocean City Wicomico County Airport on the state's Delmarva peninsular claims several advantages in its plans to expand uncrewed air system activity, including a sparse local population.
FutureFlight
Thales Joins Eve Urban Air Mobility as Key Partner for eVTOL Program
Thales's announcement of its partnership with Eve comes just three weeks before the Embraer subsidiary is due to complete its merger and Wall Street IPO with Zanite Acquisition.
FutureFlight
Quiet eVTOL Flights Will Be the Benchmark For Olympic Gold at Paris 2024 Games
Volocopter is using advanced air mobility preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to assess eVTOL performance characteristics including aircraft noise.
Regulations and Government
Eve and Zanite Plan To Complete Merger, IPO Next Month
Eve Urban Air Mobility and Zanite Acquisition expect to complete their merger on May 9 and then float shares in the new Eve Holding entity on the NYSE.
FutureFlight
Eve and Zanite Expect To Complete Merger and Wall Street Listing in May
Shareholders in Zanite Acquisition are set to vote on the proposed business combination with Eve Urban Air Mobility at a special meeting on May 6.
FutureFlight
Lilium Submits eVTOL Type Certification Means of Compliance Plan to EASA
Gaining acceptance for the means of compliance allows the manufacturer to prepare to demonstrate that its aircraft meets airworthiness requirements.
FutureFlight On The Radar
New Concept of Operations Spells Out How Autonomous eVTOL Vehicles Could Operate Alongside Other Aircraft
Skyports and eVTOL aircraft developer Wisk say they have produced the first concept of operations to directly address the challenge of establishing autonomous advanced air mobility services using new and existing infrastrcture.
FutureFlight
Preorder for 100 EHang eVTOL Aircraft Paves the Way for Urban Air Mobility in Indonesia
Indonesian company Prestige Aviation has agreed to add 100 of EHang's two-seat EH216 Autonomous Aerial Vehicles to its fleet to provide passenger transportation in the Southeast Asian country.
FutureFlight
Wisk and Skyports Issue Concept of Operations for Autonomous eVTOL Aircraft Flights
The concept of operations document spells out how autonomous aircraft could be safely integrated with new and existing vertiports and also with drones and piloted aircraft.
FutureFlight
Developers of eVTOL Aircraft Resist the Safety Case for Parachutes
Parachutes can be deployed in seconds to allow aircraft to make a safe, soft landing if major systems like propulsion and flight controls fail, but are they suitable for new vertical takeoff and landing vehicles operating at low altitudes?
Airlines
For Now, Covid Remains a Bigger Drag on Air Transport than War
IATA says the fall-out from Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been relatively limited, with the exception of rising fuel prices and risks to leasing assets.
FutureFlight
Dufour To Locate Some Work on Aero eVTOL Aircraft Family in Montreal
The Swiss company is recruiting software engineers in Montreal, which is Canada's main aerospace industry hub.
